EricRipert

Eric Ripert, the chef/owner of the New York restaurant Le Bernardin, along with his wine director Aldo Sohm, has introduced the Avec Eric Perfect Pairings wine club.

Ripert is the host of a new show for PBS, Avec Eric, in which he explores his own vision of why we cook and where he finds his inspiration. Sohm, who oversees Le Bernardin's wine collection of over 15,000 bottles, recently received the 2009 James Beard Award for "Outstanding Wine Service" and was named "Best Sommelier in the World" in 2008 by the Worldwide Sommelier Association. Sohm is the first representative from America to win this title. Le Bernardin holds three stars from the Michelin Guide ,and has maintained its four-star rating from The New York Times for over 20 years.

In an interesting twist, the wines were picked with specific recipes from the chef in mind. Each month, Ripert and Sohm choose two bottles of wine for their members with the intention of pairing them with recipes inspired by his new series. The members will receive the recipes, as well as the wines, in addition to detailed tasting notes written by Sohm. Members also gain access to monthly online videos of the duo explaining each pairing. The wines are a mixed selection of reds, whites and sparkling chosen to complement the proposed dishes.

Ripert feels strongly that great food does not need to be complicated or intimidating for the home chef. Each show starts out with a trip to a vineyard, farm or four-star kitchen but finishes with the chef in his home kitchen demonstrating recipes for the home cook and enjoying the perfect glass of wine to accompany his meal. A Votre Sante!

Known as the first food rescue organization in the world, City Harvest pledges to bring fresh produce and other local foods to the hungry of NYC. Over the past twenty-five years they have been instrumental in providing high quality food to needy individuals expecting to rescue and deliver twenty-three millions pounds of excess food in 2009 which is a million pounds more than last year. Many city restaurants, corporate cafeterias and food vendors are already committed to the cause by donating unwanted and surplus food items to City Harvest but on Tuesday a particularly esteemed venue made a significant pledge.

Ah, the Cayman Islands, January 16-19, 2009, with top food and liquor to boot. The Cayman Cookout is just what you'll want come frosty winter. The "cookout" is the Caribbean's premier food, wine and rum festival, and is hosted by Eric Ripert, known for Le Bernadin. A weekend of events, tastings, demonstrations and wine seminars from Ripert and his friends, including wine expert Anthony Giglio, fill four delicious days. The cookout is set in the the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, home of Ripert's acclaimed restaurant Blue.